Multi70 Oman Sail/Musandam break Round Britain and Ireland multihull race record (awaiting ratification by the WSSRC)

 From the following article by RORC:

http://roundbritainandireland.rorc.org/newsblogsphotos/press-releases/326-an-extraordinary-series-of-events.html

Sidney Gavignet and the crew of Musandam-Oman Sail, a MOD70 trimaran crossed the finish line of the 2014 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race off the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, at 12.42.36 BST on Thursday 14th August 2014.

This is an elapsed time of 3 days, 3 hours, 32 minutes, 36 seconds and, subject to ratification by the World Speed Sailing Record Council, a new Outright World Record for the Round Britain and Ireland course and a new race record for the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race.

It was almost unthinkable that a 70ft trimaran, with no ability to decide when to start, could defeat a 140ft trimaran that had decided exactly when to set off. However a fantastic boat, a perfect performance and an extraordinary series of coincidences lined up to make the impossible a reality.

read more here

Multi70 Oman Sail/Musandam in full flight, photo Mark Lloyd/Oman Sail

Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland yacht race update

After a start in ideal conditions the Multi70 Musandam/Oman Sail has powered up the coast of the UK and is now approaching Muckle Flugga the northernmost turning point of the race in the North Sea.  They are currently 2 hours ahead of the record time set by the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V.

More details in the latest RORC press release:

http://roundbritainandireland.rorc.org/newsblogsphotos/press-releases/295-record-pace-at-muckle-flugga.html

and a good video showing the start of the race:

Start of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland race delayed by 21 hours

Nick Elliot Racing manager of the RORC gives a brief explanation of the reasoning behind the decision.



And the press release and quotes from the fleet below:

http://roundbritainandireland.rorc.org/newsblogsphotos/press-releases/273-race-postponement-quotes-from-the-fleet.html

The Race Committee have taken the decision to postpone the start of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 by 21 hours. The new start time will be 0900 on the 11th August 2014.
The Race Committee took this decision after receiving advice that the low pressure system known as Bertha is moving more slowly than previously predicted, with the result that the forecast winds for the start and the immediate period afterwards include sustained winds of 40 knots, with gusts in excess of 50 knots in the English Channel.

The advice is that this delay will allow time for the severe winds to abate as the low pressure system moves North East.

Katrin Hilbert speaking on behalf of the Custom JV 52, Haspa Hamburg, commented, "the adrenaline was pumping, we were ready to go but we realise that the decision was made for all the right reasons; our hearts were saying let's go! But our heads were looking at the bigger picture. Some of the younger crew are disappointed but we will sit down and talk about it in a coffee shop. Cowes is a nice place, it is better to have the discussion there than in terrible weather in the English Channel.

read more here

Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland race set to get underway

This RORC event is a perpetual favourite and a strong fleet have returned to contest the race this year:

The race website:
http://roundbritainandireland.rorc.org/

The race tracker:
http://roundbritainandireland.rorc.org/tracking.html

Due to the prevailing weather conditions they have decided that the race direction will be reversed and will now be anticlockwise.

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/index.cfm?SEID=0&Nid=125410&SRCID=0&ntid=0&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0

In the Multihulls Damien Foxall of Oman Sail/Musandam are hoping to break the race record which is currently held by the Maxi trimaran BP5 at 3 days, 3 hours, 49 minutes, 14 seconds.

http://roundbritainandireland.rorc.org/newsblogsphotos/press-releases/267-as-tough-as-it-gets.html